The challenges of a $10,000 baccalaureate degree

Published: Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7:07 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Incoming students will be able to take advantage of Gov. Rick Scott's $10,000 baccalaureate degree initiative at the State College of Florida starting next fall.

Facts

CORRECTION

An earlier version of this story had Carol Probstfeld's name misspelled.

But the students who will be eligible for the cheaper bachelor's degrees are limited: the new programs are offered for specific degrees and rely on incoming credit and a willingness to take accelerated courses.

The $10,000 challenge, issued last year to community and state colleges outside of Florida's university system, asked school leaders to find creative ways to subsidize a $10,000 degree for students entering baccalaureate programs.

With funding for higher education decreasing, community and state colleges appear to be unveiling programs that rely on tuition waivers or additional sources of income to be feasible.

“It's too early to say, but looking at the first things that we've seen, it appears to me that most of them are using outside donors to help pay for it,” says Randy Hanna, chancellor of the Florida College System.

“What some of these schools are doing are trying to encourage kids to get in and get out and accelerate the pace that they are in school.”

Four of the eight baccalaureate degrees that State College of Florida offers — early childhood education, energy technology management, technology management and international business and trade — can be completed for $10,000 starting in the 2014 school year.

Eligible students must come in with up to 15 credits, either from dual enrollment in high school or comparative credit from previous work experience. They must take courses reconfigured and consolidated by school staff, maybe taking two eight-week classes in a semester rather than two semester-long classes.

Students who stick to the course and maintain a certain grade point average will earn a scholarship for their last semester, likely funded by the college's foundation and other fundraising.

“They don't necessarily have the opportunity to deviate around and take lots of electives,” State College of Florida President Carol Probstfeld said. “They have to continuously keep going.”

For some, that philosophy is not so different from existing programs.

Brandon Santiago, 31, will graduate from SCF this December with a degree in energy technology management. Most of his courses were accelerated, online classes taken in a matter of weeks, either because he elected to take them or the class only had accelerated options.

“You had to have a certain discipline to stick to them,” Santiago said. “It drives you crazy after awhile but it pays off in the end.”

Still, Santiago says his workload was challenging and he would weigh the value of a $10,000 degree closely. It is likely he already got one.

Like many other students who qualify for financial aid, Santiago estimates the cost of his tuition dropped from more than $16,000 to roughly $10,000 for his associate's and bachelor's degrees.

Most associate's degrees already are well under $10,000, and with an average $13,264 sticker price for four-year degrees, Florida's community colleges already are offering an affordable degree compared with other states.

Though Florida does not allow colleges to incorporate financial aid in subsidizing their degrees, critics nationwide have questioned whether the Florida challenge, and others like it, encourages true innovation or is missing the mark about how to drive college costs down.

“The traditional degree is beneficial,” said Arnold Bailey Jr., 46, who graduated from SCF this May. “Even if there are seemingly unnecessary classes associated with it, though I don't think they are.”

Bailey shares a concern that reflects a larger educational debate: How does acceleration affect quality?

It is a question SCF leaders are considering.

“We have to find out how that's going to look in the long run because I do believe that time on task has value,” says Probstfeld, the SCF president, who points out that all bachelor's degrees are approved by the state and have to meet specific standards and qualifications.

What school leaders do know is this: Enrollment in baccalaureate programs has jumped 40 percent since last fall. That's evidence, they say, that there is strong, local desire for four-year degrees that are required by law to fuel the workforce.

State College graduate Bailey suggests the accelerated model would be easier for some students than others.

He returned to school at 32 after serving in the Marine Corps, and thinks the program may be easier for traditional students who have taken the initiative to earn college credit in high school and have parental and financial support.

At SCF, 83 percent of those enrolled in baccalaureate degrees graduated from the school's associate-level programs.

Using the degree to attract traditional students who did not earn their associate's degrees at SCF, would help the school reach a new market, Probstfeld said.

Last fall, only 1,189 students from Sarasota and Manatee high schools enrolled at SCF. Total enrollment for the school was 10,800.

In a few years, State College of Florida's officials will better understand the program's sustainability.

For now, Probstfeld said, the $10,000 degree will only be promised to one four-year cohort at a time.

Currently, the school has opted to give tuition waiver opportunities to students who are veterans, and financial aid fees collected from baccalaureate students fund all four-year programs, not just the ones with specific sticker prices. The current model needs to be understood.

“My concerns is how long can you hold that price tag at $10,000?” Probstfeld says. “When does it become disequitable for other students? When do my lower-division students fundamentally subsidize this program?”

Hanna, the Florida College System chancellor chancellor, acknowledges that state funding has decreased in recent years, putting more of a strain on local colleges to make up the difference with enrollment or community support.

“We are moving to be a point across the nation where everyone is sensitive to this tuition issue,” Hanna said. “I think they will be sensitive to what they can do financially and at the same time provide opportunities for the students.”

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Incoming students will be able to take advantage of Gov. Rick Scott's $10,000 baccalaureate degree initiative at the State College of Florida starting next fall.</p><p>But the students who will be eligible for the cheaper bachelor's degrees are limited: the new programs are offered for specific degrees and rely on incoming credit and a willingness to take accelerated courses.</p><p>The $10,000 challenge, issued last year to community and state colleges outside of Florida's university system, asked school leaders to find creative ways to subsidize a $10,000 degree for students entering baccalaureate programs.</p><p>With funding for higher education decreasing, community and state colleges appear to be unveiling programs that rely on tuition waivers or additional sources of income to be feasible.</p><p>“It's too early to say, but looking at the first things that we've seen, it appears to me that most of them are using outside donors to help pay for it,” says Randy Hanna, chancellor of the Florida College System.</p><p>“What some of these schools are doing are trying to encourage kids to get in and get out and accelerate the pace that they are in school.”</p><p>Four of the eight baccalaureate degrees that State College of Florida offers — early childhood education, energy technology management, technology management and international business and trade — can be completed for $10,000 starting in the 2014 school year.</p><p>Eligible students must come in with up to 15 credits, either from dual enrollment in high school or comparative credit from previous work experience. They must take courses reconfigured and consolidated by school staff, maybe taking two eight-week classes in a semester rather than two semester-long classes.</p><p>Students who stick to the course and maintain a certain grade point average will earn a scholarship for their last semester, likely funded by the college's foundation and other fundraising.</p><p>“They don't necessarily have the opportunity to deviate around and take lots of electives,” State College of Florida President Carol Probstfeld said. “They have to continuously keep going.”</p><p>For some, that philosophy is not so different from existing programs.</p><p>Brandon Santiago, 31, will graduate from SCF this December with a degree in energy technology management. Most of his courses were accelerated, online classes taken in a matter of weeks, either because he elected to take them or the class only had accelerated options.</p><p>“You had to have a certain discipline to stick to them,” Santiago said. “It drives you crazy after awhile but it pays off in the end.”</p><p>Still, Santiago says his workload was challenging and he would weigh the value of a $10,000 degree closely. It is likely he already got one.</p><p>Like many other students who qualify for financial aid, Santiago estimates the cost of his tuition dropped from more than $16,000 to roughly $10,000 for his associate's and bachelor's degrees.</p><p>Most associate's degrees already are well under $10,000, and with an average $13,264 sticker price for four-year degrees, Florida's community colleges already are offering an affordable degree compared with other states.</p><p>Though Florida does not allow colleges to incorporate financial aid in subsidizing their degrees, critics nationwide have questioned whether the Florida challenge, and others like it, encourages true innovation or is missing the mark about how to drive college costs down.</p><p>“The traditional degree is beneficial,” said Arnold Bailey Jr., 46, who graduated from SCF this May. “Even if there are seemingly unnecessary classes associated with it, though I don't think they are.”</p><p>Bailey shares a concern that reflects a larger educational debate: How does acceleration affect quality?</p><p>It is a question SCF leaders are considering.</p><p>“We have to find out how that's going to look in the long run because I do believe that time on task has value,” says Probstfeld, the SCF president, who points out that all bachelor's degrees are approved by the state and have to meet specific standards and qualifications.</p><p>What school leaders do know is this: Enrollment in baccalaureate programs has jumped 40 percent since last fall. That's evidence, they say, that there is strong, local desire for four-year degrees that are required by law to fuel the workforce.</p><p>State College graduate Bailey suggests the accelerated model would be easier for some students than others.</p><p>He returned to school at 32 after serving in the Marine Corps, and thinks the program may be easier for traditional students who have taken the initiative to earn college credit in high school and have parental and financial support.</p><p>At SCF, 83 percent of those enrolled in baccalaureate degrees graduated from the school's associate-level programs.</p><p>Using the degree to attract traditional students who did not earn their associate's degrees at SCF, would help the school reach a new market, Probstfeld said.</p><p>Last fall, only 1,189 students from Sarasota and Manatee high schools enrolled at SCF. Total enrollment for the school was 10,800.</p><p>In a few years, State College of Florida's officials will better understand the program's sustainability.</p><p>For now, Probstfeld said, the $10,000 degree will only be promised to one four-year cohort at a time.</p><p>Currently, the school has opted to give tuition waiver opportunities to students who are veterans, and financial aid fees collected from baccalaureate students fund all four-year programs, not just the ones with specific sticker prices. The current model needs to be understood.</p><p>“My concerns is how long can you hold that price tag at $10,000?” Probstfeld says. “When does it become disequitable for other students? When do my lower-division students fundamentally subsidize this program?”</p><p>Hanna, the Florida College System chancellor chancellor, acknowledges that state funding has decreased in recent years, putting more of a strain on local colleges to make up the difference with enrollment or community support.</p><p>“We are moving to be a point across the nation where everyone is sensitive to this tuition issue,” Hanna said. “I think they will be sensitive to what they can do financially and at the same time provide opportunities for the students.”</p>